Just and once

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Nineteen.

" I don't know why he kept all of this from you but it will be best if you go home and discuss it with him. He is in the best position to explain things ",
That was the last thing her father-in-law told her before she left there.

On getting home, she met a very quiet and empty house. Richard isn't home yet.

Seated in front of her dressing mirror in their room, her mind wandered off .
    " Richard was adopted. We are not his real parents "

She just can't keep those words off her head, it was a very shocking revelation to her.
More than five years now, five years…  and he kept that from her.

" Oh God ", she wept, painful tears rolling down her face.
She felt utterly betrayed.
Five years??

And thus made her even question herself, what exactly does she even know about her husband? Except for his name , line of work, his only friend and his family which even turns out to be fake.
What is running through that man's mind? What exactly?

And the fact that he has many more secrets which she doesn't know gave her the chills. What if everything they saw at the flgala turns out to be true.

Even his parents said he once had a rough life, a dark past. That might be the truth, his lifelong secret which he kept from everyone .
Ohh sorry from her, because his parents and sister definitely know about it all.

" What have I gotten myself into ? ", She muttered a lone tear roaming down her face.
When she met him, she thought maybe he is such an introvert that's why he doesn't say anything of his growing up to her.
She thought it was all normal, how he is sometimes secretive and some of his strange acts

She thought that was the kind of person he is, not knowing he has something hidden.
But Why? Why keep it away from her?
No doubt she loves him, she would have definitely looked away form.all of those.
Richard is such a wonderful selfless man, truly.

All through their years of marriage, all he does is shower her with love , affection and understanding. He is the best thing that have ever happened to her

But the bitter heart wrenching fact that he kept all of these from her broke her heart.
She trusts him so much. Even though she might waver sometimes but she really loves her husband. Truly.

She sat there and wept to her own despair, after crying out her eyes she layed on their bed patiently waiting for her husband to come back home.

Several hours of waiting and he is not back yet,she staroyo get scared.
What if something bad has happened to him?
She called his line severally, yet ringing he didn't pick up.

Her mind wasn't rest assured a bit, now past 2 in the midnight and her husband is yet to be back and also not picking his calls.

Oh Lord!
She roamed and paraded the room and the sitting room, a single wink of sleep not coming.
She felt restless.

She started to fall asleep on the couch but the loud ruffling of the entrance door stirred up her sleep.
Swiftly, she jumped out of the couch, rushed to the door.

" Richard", she called , a rush of relief running through her body.

He was surprised to see her still awake.
" Love, are you okay?", He asked seeing how pale her face looks.

" How do you expect me to be fine. I've been calling you but you choose not to pick up. What is wrong with you? ", She flipped angrily, her nose blaring in anger.

He sighed and brought out his phone from his back pocket just for him to sight 105 missed calls and 23 messages.

85 from Arianna 10 from his mom,  5 from Jessica and his father.
All the messages form his wife.

He felt gult stricken for making her worry so much about him.
" I'm very sorry love, my phone was on silent. I am so sorry for making you worry", he apologized sincerely closing the distance between them.

She was really worried and at the same time angry.
She threw him an angry look .

Hands akimbo, she asked, " Where have you been? "
Her face serious, her body language clearly stating she wants nothing but the truth.

" And no lies Richard because truome I seem to not understand you any longer",

He gulped " I I have… I needed to attend to something urgent ", stumping a little bit on his wordings.

" Something like what? ",

" It's about work love, I promise",

" No Richard, no I don't want to hear any of your lies anymore. I don't. ", She flipped throwing her hands into the air.

His brows twitched up, his demeanor looking lost and confused.
" Love what are you talking about? I'm speaking the truth. Simon called me thus afternoon about one of our client wanting to reject our proposal and I had to do something"

" So you were discussing with this so called client till midnight.oh please, tell me another thing",

" Arianna what is wrong with you? Why are you acting like this? "

" I don't wanna hear any of your lies  again. "

His facial expression changed from that of suprise to disbelief, " wait Arianna, you don't trust me ? ", He asked his voice calm .

She scoffed angrily, " As if you give me a reason to ",

His face fell, he stared at his wife with his jaw dropped.
" Arianna I am not cheating on you, I am not ", he stated

Assuming the issues on ground wasn't a big one, this is a perfect time for her to have a good laugh.
So all of his thoughts was that I think he is cheating on me ?
Goodness.

" Cheating? That isn't even a bit closer to any of this "

" Then what is all of this? ", He asked genuinely lost.

"I went to your parents house today, they called me ", she started.

" You are keeping them worried Richard. What the hell is your problem? We are your family why do you keep doing this to me ? Why? ",  She yelled , her eyes getting glass with tears .

" Arianna, what ….",

" All these years Richard, all of these years of us being a couple have you ever trusted me ? Have you ever? ", Tears streamed down her cheeks.

Richard was confused and at the same time worried. What is going on with his wife?
" Arianna I sincerely don't understand all of this, what do……" , she interrupted him sharply.

" Was any of this even real? The love, kindness, this marriage and you, were any of it real? ", she sobbed

" Love you are getting me scared ", , he tried touching her face but she pushed back.

" Arianna ", he called hurtfully, no doubt pained by her gesture.

" You were adopted. They are not your real parents ", she dropped.

Hearing this, his face changed.
" How…",he was short of words.

" Yes I found it out and your parents told me "  she revealed.

" But why? Why Richard? How can you keep such from me? Why didn't you tell me ? It is not like it is a bad thing to reveal but you kept me in the dark for years.", She cried .

He felt guilty, ashamed. All he ever do is make her cry, cause her pain.
And he claims he loves her.

" Love I am very sorry,.I swear I didn't mean to keep it away from you..I swear but…..," he trailed.

" But what? But what? answer me ", she demanded angrily.

He lowered his head down in guilt.
" Trust me Arianna, I really didn't…….", He spoke trying to move closer to her but she pushed back yet again.

" Tell me Richard, how many more secrets have you been hiding from me ? How many more darkest secrets are you doing so much to conceal? " , She asked staring straight into his eyes.

All she could see is a man she loved but kept letting her down.
But she didn't notice the pain he is trying to hide as well . The anguish.

© Adira H.